Samhainophobia is the term for the fear of Halloween. It’s a specific phobia where thoughts or exposure to Halloween-related imagery, activities, or reminders provoke significant anxiety, panic, or avoidance.
- Origins of the term: The name comes from Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking the start of winter, which evolved into the modern Halloween celebration.
- Common features: People with samhainophobia may experience nervousness, rapid heartbeat, sweating, or avoidance behaviors when faced with Halloween costumes, decorations, haunted attractions, or discussions about the holiday.
- Prevalence and context: Like other specific phobias, samhainophobia can vary in intensity and may be linked to traumatic experiences or death-related imagery associated with Halloween. Not officially a separate diagnosis in all manuals, but it is treated as a specific phobia in clinical discussions.
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